LWRWC Enjoys Ringling Stroll
by Monika Templeman, LWRWC Publicity Chair

On Thursday evening, Dec. 16, 2021, thirty-eight LWRWC members, family, and friends, enjoyed a delightful Italian group dinner at Primo followed by a magical stroll, that all participants could do at their own pace, to experience the Annual Ringling Holiday Splendor Event supporting the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots toy collection drive to benefit children in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Local schools provided musical entertainment and all venues were open for self-touring from 5-8 p.m., including the Ca’ d’Zan, the Circus Museum, and the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.

Admission to this event, including the spectacular Ca’d’Zan mansion, which served as the winter residence of circus mogul, capitalist, entrepreneur and art collector John Ringling and his wife Mable, was free with one unwrapped toy per person.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ca’ d’Zan adjacent to the beautiful Sarasota Bay, is a Mediterranean revival style palatial mansion designed in the Venetian Gothic style of the palazzos that surround the canals in Venice, Italy. The Ringling winter mansion was named Ca’ d’Zan “House of John” in the Venetian dialect, in honor of its owner and has been admired as an architectural gem since it was completed in 1926.

During Holiday Splendor, the Ca’ d’Zan is all decked out with gorgeous Christmas decorations, including a unique collection of old-fashioned Christmas Cards from the 1920’s as 1930’s received by the Ringling family.

Our thanks to LWRWC Program Co-Chair, Sharon Wright, for coordinating this lovely holiday “off-the-ranch” outing!